Local Teens Get Schooled Via STD Drama, Courtesy of Kaiser
Kaiser Permanente wants its patients to thrive, and the healthcare organization also wants high school students to be sexually educated. Spreading sexually transmitted disease (STD) awareness to local high school students, Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theatre recently performed at John Wooden High School in Reseda.
Continuing Kaiser's 25 years of health education via live theatre, health educators take to the stage "to show, rather than tell about the emotional turmoils that come with such issues as contracting chlamydia," according to LA Daily News. The 65-minute STD prevention play "What Goes Around" shows how certain STDs can be contracted through unprotected sex and "tells the story of five friends as they navigate their way through the final days of high school," says the Educational Theatre website.
Gerry Farrell, director of SoCal's Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre, says, "We're one of the largest theatrical organizations that do this public-based, public health theater," adding, "This is such a better way of presenting information about health, especially for this age group."
Actors say knowing their competition is a big challenge when presenting the plays. LA Daily News posted examples of said competition. "Information off the Internet, shows such as "Glee" and exchanges from Twitter and Facebook bring on a whole host of questions about different types of sexual behavior, and misconceptions behind household cures, such as using lemon juice or bleach to cure an STD." During recent performances, students have asked actors about a rumored infection called "blue waffle," a grotesque disease effecting women that simply does not exist.
Educational Theatre is setting STD facts straight on stage and is constantly evolving the show based on technology. The group ensures all aspects of the shows relate to teenagers and incorporates text messaging into their performances. After the recent show for continuing students at John Wooden, the actors held a Q&A session. Many students lauded the show for reaching them emotionally.
"Many teens don't know a lot about what they were talking about," said 16-year-old Tatiana Pena.
